Nangal— In a historic move, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to carry out desilting operations at the Bhakhra Dam for the first time since its construction. The decision marks a major step toward safeguarding the dam’s storage capacity and ensuring long-term water management efficiency in the region.
Officials confirmed that the committee includes senior experts and engineers, including a Chief Engineer–level officer, who will guide the technical, environmental, and operational aspects of the desilting process. The project is expected to involve extensive planning due to the scale and age of the dam.
The ministry’s decision comes amid growing concerns over sediment accumulation, which has steadily reduced the dam’s effective storage capacity over decades. The newly formed panel will study the existing sediment load, recommend suitable desilting methods, and prepare an implementation roadmap.
This initiative is seen as a significant intervention to preserve one of North India’s most critical water reservoirs, which plays a key role in irrigation, power generation, and flood control.
